Volume One, Chapter Six: The Ordeal

The door creaked open.

Hearing the sound, Su Wanhua and Liu Jinyue, who were arm in arm, both turned their heads in surprise.

Her son... is he finally showing signs of understanding?

She always knew that An’an was capable.

A smile involuntarily spread across Su Wanhua’s lips.

But Liu Jinyue did not share Su Wanhua’s cheerful mood.

Her eyes were fixed tightly on the woman in Si Jinnian’s arms. Although she could only see half of the woman’s chin, the dazzlingly pale skin made her burn with jealousy, her fists clenched so tightly they ached.

Where did this seductress come from? She has never been held like this by my eldest brother!

As they entered, Shen Nian’an felt it was impolite to be held like that when meeting elders and wanted to get down. Si Jinnian replied coldly, “If you don’t want to be a cripple in the future, behave yourself.” This made her puff out her cheeks in annoyance.

Just then, a large face suddenly appeared in front of her.

The woman’s eyes narrowed, her face blooming into a smile like a chrysanthemum: “An’an, I am your Aunt Su.”

Su Wanhua was so warm and enthusiastic that Shen Nian’an was a bit startled, instinctively shrinking closer into Si Jinnian’s embrace.

In this era, aren’t capitalists universally despised?

Unable to understand, Shen Nian’an attributed this to the noble character of the Si family.

No wonder they are the defenders of the nation!

Just as Shen Nian’an was about to reach out to greet her, a man’s unpleasant voice sounded from above.

“Mom, you scared Comrade Shen.”

Si Jinnian stepped past Shen Nian’an and gently placed her on the wooden sofa.

“Scared An’an?” Su Wanhua muttered softly, reflecting on herself. Perhaps she had been too enthusiastic?

But... her son was finally showing some promise at this age; how could she restrain herself?

At that moment, Liu Jinyue came over and linked her arm with Su Wanhua’s, kindly saying, “Mom, sit down and talk.”

Su Wanhua didn’t immediately move but pulled Liu Jinyue aside to ask quietly. Only after receiving a “No” did she breathe a sigh of relief.

The daughter-in-law must not leave!

However, completely focused on Shen Nian’an, Su Wanhua failed to notice that where Liu Jinyue’s arm was linked around hers, the previously smooth fabric of her sleeve was now creased into stripes.

While the two chatted, Si Jinnian disappeared briefly. When he returned, he brought out a cane from the storage room and placed it beside Shen Nian’an.

He said, “Use this while I’m not home.”

“Thank you.”

Though his expression remained cold and distant, as the saying goes, no one knows a child better than their mother. Look at how clean that cane is—obviously dusted off! And if she’s to use it while he’s gone, then what about when he’s home?

“Mom?”

Seeing Su Wanhua unresponsive, Si Jinnian frowned and raised his voice slightly. “Mom.”

“Ah?” Su Wanhua snapped back to reality, meeting her son’s sharp, all-seeing black eyes, feeling an inexplicable unease, quickly replaced by anger.

What is there to fear? No matter how scary, he came out of her womb! Call me Mom!

With that thought, Su Wanhua instantly regained confidence. “Why shout so loud? I’m not deaf.”

“I brought her back for you. You take care of her; I’m going to work.”

Without another word, Si Jinnian left without looking back.

This was typical of Si Jinnian’s style, and while he didn’t see anything special, to Su Wanhua it was a subtle reminder not to interfere in his marriage affairs.

Anger surged within her.

Liu Jinyue, however, smiled, unable to suppress the upward curl of her lips.

It seemed that eldest brother had no feelings for this woman either.

Yet the hostility in Liu Jinyue’s heart had not dissipated; just because it wasn’t there now didn’t mean it wouldn’t be in the future.

After all, this temptress was the only woman besides their mother to be held by eldest brother—and their mother even wanted to match them up.

But with Liu Jinyue here, marrying eldest brother? Dream on!

“Mom, isn’t sister going to say anything?” Liu Jinyue asked innocently.

Su Wanhua patted Liu Jinyue’s hand, chiding, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

An’an was a child she had seen before—sweet-talking and adorable.

Liu Jinyue’s eyes reddened as she felt wronged. “Mom, why did you hit me? Sister An’an hasn’t even greeted you properly after entering the door for so long. Am I wrong to think that?”

Caught off guard by this direct accusation, Shen Nian’an came back to herself, recalling how Si Jinnian had simply dropped her off and left.

Calling Si Jinnian “Mom” like him? And calling her sister?

She must be Si Jinnian’s younger sister.

Indeed, Shen Nian’an, who had not greeted anyone yet, immediately admitted her fault. “Auntie, I’m sorry. I’m new here and was impolite. Please scold me.”

Having been in the lab for a long time, Shen Nian’an spoke and acted in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner—if there was a mistake, she would admit it.

Actually, this was no big deal, but Shen Nian’an’s bluntness made Su Wanhua somewhat embarrassed.

If she said nothing, it felt awkward inside; if she said something, she might appear petty.

Besides, she couldn’t deny that her son might have some interest in An’an—after all, she was her best friend’s daughter. Su Wanhua couldn’t really scold Shen Nian’an.

So she suppressed her slight discomfort and changed the subject.

“An’an, not like when you were little—sweet-talking. As expected, you’ve grown up and learned to be shy.”

“No,” Shen Nian’an continued honestly, “I’ve always been like this, straightforward and factual.”

Su Wanhua was at a loss for how to respond.

Liu Jinyue, who knew Su Wanhua well enough, noticed the slight frown on her mother’s face. She hadn’t expected Shen Nian’an to be so clumsy as not to win over her elders.

Seeing Su Wanhua’s awkwardness, she took the initiative to bring up the topic she cared about most.

“Sister An’an, what happened to your foot? Did you fall because you saw my eldest brother? Haha...” Liu Jinyue stuck out her tongue playfully. “You can’t walk? Did you trip?”

Upon hearing this, Su Wanhua looked over.

On the phone, Qingqing had only mentioned that An’an hadn’t found a job on the mainland. Thinking back to when Jinnian had gone home and played with young An’an, Su Wanhua had decided to bring her to the island.

“No.”

“Your brother walks too fast, I couldn’t keep up and stepped on a stone, twisting my ankle.”

This made Su Wanhua worry again—had she guessed wrong?

“Oh, even on flat ground you can twist your ankle? Sister An’an, how did you do that? Teach me! Next time I don’t want to go on the art troupe tour, I’ll do the same!”

What do you mean you couldn’t keep up? I think it was on purpose.

I thought you were naive, but you’re actually quite cunning!

Just wait until I’m not around mom—I’ll tear off your mask!

Shen Nian’an frowned and immediately scolded, “That kind of thinking is unacceptable! If you hold a position, you must fulfill its duties! Since you chose to be a performing soldier, going to harsh places for art troupe performances and representing the navy art troupe is your responsibility! If you can’t do it, change jobs early to avoid implicating your family!”

Though her tone was harsh and even a little unpleasant, Shen Nian’an was genuinely considering Liu Jinyue’s interests.

In this era, personal conduct issues seemed very serious!

If this behavior were discovered, a complaint might be filed, which would not only harm Liu Jinyue but also implicate the Si family.

Shen Nian’an meant well, but Liu Jinyue did not take it that way.

She was an outsider; how could this girl scold her like that?

Liu Jinyue pouted, tears streaming down her face.

She looked at Su Wanhua and said, “Mom, that’s not what I meant... I don’t even know why Sister An’an thinks that way... Does she dislike me, her sister-in-law, being in the house? If that’s the case, Mom, I will marry myself off tomorrow...”